Optimal Functioning

Nike+ iPod running gear, which measures the distance you run, is a great tool for runners. Nike recently filed a patent which might reveal some of their plans for further development of this product.

The current Nike+ iPod fitness gear is very useful for running since it measures the distance you run as well as acting as a motivator.  A new patent (illustration) which Nike has filed suggests that this product will become even better.  The complaints runners usually have for the Nike+ is not that it doesn’t accurately measure the distance, but rather that it does not include other measurements which runners find useful to monitor.  It was previously also critiqued because you had to have an iPod to use it, but it’s now possible to buy an armband which you can use instead of the iPod.

In the future the sensors might monitor many different factors such as EKG, heart rate, body temperature and even hydration.  A GPS might also be added to allow the user to follow their routes.  It also appears that technology will be increasingly integrated into apparel and clothing.

These sensors would be mounted “in or on” various kinds of clothing, such as armbands and headbands, and might also be attached to various kinds of sports equipment, such as bats, rackets, bicycles or golf clubs. The patent further illustrates how the technology would interact with touchscreen devices like the iPhone or iPod touch; users may have the option of voice commands, helping to safeguard their electronics against sweaty fingers. Some sensors may be able to communicate with nearby devices other than an iPod, such as computers and exercise machines. Accordingly, iPods involved in the equation could be set to play video as well as audio mixes, including coaching and/or “motivational” content. [iPodNN]